Los Angeles

Conscious Capitalism Los Angeles Chapter is your local branch of the global movement. We are dedicated to cultivating the theory and practice of Conscious Capitalism through events, presentations, and publications. We support the local community and serve as a resource on your journey to a more conscious business.

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CCLA CHAPTER LEADERSHIP

Cassie Fowler

Vice President of Strategy & Social Impact, Pledgeling

Cassie Fowler

Vice President of Strategy & Social Impact, Pledgeling

Cassandra (Cassie) Fowler is a mission-driven entrepreneur committed to turning big ideas into reality. As Vice President of Strategy & Social Impact at Pledgeling, Cassie leads a team to enable companies of all sizes to grow through giving. Pledgeling powers corporate impact partnerships in today's purpose-driven economy by delivering ROI through impact for companies while also measuring impact through their platform. Pledgeling powers 1,000+ CSR and corporate impact programs, which have raised $11M+ for thousands of nonprofits and processed donations in 80+ countries, to date. Prior to Pledgeling, Cassie spent 15 years building global programs at scale for the Green Belt Movement International & other organizations, including media properties with Bloomberg and Al Jazeera English. Working hand-in-hand with 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai of Kenya, she helped launch the Nobel Women's Initiative and Plant for the Planet Campaign, in partnership with the United Nations, which has planted 15B+ trees globally. Cassie pioneered the first CSR relationships for several nonprofits, and is passionate about architecting innovative models for public-private partnerships to thrive.

Cj Bruce

Founder and CEO, ChuckJoe

Cj Bruce

Founder and CEO, ChuckJoe

CJ Bruce is the Founder and CEO of ChuckJoe, a conscious digital agency focused on helping brands and organizations with a purpose build automated digital marketing systems that reach, engage and convert new customers. CJ has worked with brands, agencies, media companies, influencers, and small businesses for more than ten years and lives by the motto that without social good baked into companies’ business models, the work is not fulfilling. CJ received his B.A. in Communication and Media Studies and Political Science from the University of Arizona. He is also a trained vegan chef and posts regularly as @VegetarianDude.

David Trovato

David Trovato

David’s journey in Social Impact began in 2005 when he joined RockCorps, a pro-social production company that produces concerts, where the only way in is through volunteering. That short term gig, turned into 12 years across more than 10 countries, where he actually put his degree in International Entrepreneurship to work! In an effort to refocus on the US, he and two partners founded Give To Get, a social impact company helping brands define, develop, and deploy their purpose, anywhere in the world. He lives in Culver City, with his Interior Designing Wife Bridgette (plug!), kiddo Julian, and papillion Sadie.

Emily Kennan

Board Member

Emily Kennan

Board Member

Emily is a senior consultant at Hypothesis Group, an AMA Top 50 insights and strategy agency that uses storytelling to inspire and activate business decisions. Specifically, Emily develops quantitative consumer research studies with Marketing, Brand, Strategy, and Product Development teams at leading global companies, tailoring insights to emphasize the marriage of purpose and profit that's needed to drive long-term business success.

Emily was an early member and volunteer of Conscious Capitalism’s LA Chapter - inspired by its engaging and creative community - and recently joined the board in the Spring of 2020. She holds a degree in Communication and Marketing from the University of Southern California.

Heather Rees

Founder, Amplify Productions

Heather Rees

Founder, Amplify Productions

Heather is the creator of Amplify Productions, a company that provides creative conceptualization, strategy, design and execution of a range of experiences for organizations and companies that prioritize making a positive social-impact.

Deeply committed to the idea and real-time evolution of business as a force for good, Heather brings nearly 15 years of in-the-trenches experience in the social enterprise and impact space.
From 2005-2006 she led economic development projects in Guatemala that forged relationships between US-based companies and local artisans and farmers. In 2007, she founded the NYC Venture Philanthropy Fund, which gave angel funding and support to early stage social entrepreneurs. In 2011, she joined Roadmonkey as Director of Operations where she curated a portfolio of innovative adventure philanthropy expeditions for individuals and corporate teams.

Today, Heather combines a deep understanding of the social impact landscape, business and marketing know-how, and the skills to artfully create experiences to help catalyze positive change in the world.

Juliette Derbyshire

Chapter Coordinator

Juliette Derbyshire

Chapter Coordinator

Juliette's CCLA journey began with an internship where she learned firsthand the ins and out of growing this impactful movement in Los Angeles. Recognizing Juliette's efforts to help strengthen the chapter, she was brought on as CCLA's official Chapter Coordinator, a role she currently holds. Juliette is passionate about leadership, is inspired by how conscious businesses can help elevate humanity and loves being able to connect our community via CCLA events, and other chapter efforts. Juliette graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Azusa Pacific University.

Lisa Schenk

President, Schenk Communications

Lisa Schenk

President, Schenk Communications

Lisa Schenk, Ph.D. has over 20 years experience helping leaders, their teams, and their companies thrive. With a mission to make work work, Lisa helps teams build alignment, improve critical interpersonal dynamics, and create and sustain the behaviors that get results. A Ph.D. in Communication and five years at McKinsey & Company, led Lisa to build her consulting business on a foundation of data-driven diagnoses paired with deep understanding of human dynamics and complex systems. She has spent her entire career helping organizations work for people and holds firmly to the belief that by doing business well, we can make the world better.

Lisa Ullmann

Director Of Strategic Partnerships, Kind Traveler

Lisa Ullmann

Director Of Strategic Partnerships, Kind Traveler

Lisa Ullmann is an experienced television producer and executive who recently made a career pivot to work in Business Development with purpose-driven companies. This is in no small part due to her involvement with the CCLA movement, which she credits for the inspiration! She is Director of Strategic Partnerships with Kind Traveler, the first “give and get” hotel booking platform that promotes travel as a force for good. Lisa spent three years as Head of Television Development for the renowned theatrical comedy company, Upright Citizens Brigade. She was also the Executive Producer of the Emmy-nominated animated series, The Ricky Gervais Show, which ran for three seasons on HBO. Lisa is a graduate of Northwestern University. She is an avid traveler, and in 2018 spent 6 months abroad absorbing world culture in countries including Ireland, France, Italy, Morocco and Israel. Some of the non-profit organizations she has worked with include The Jewish Federation, A Purposeful Rescue, Friends of Yemin Orde, Claire’s Place Foundation, Taproot Foundation, Homeboy Industries, Aviva Child Services, and Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Maureen McComsey

Executive Director, CCLA

Maureen McComsey

Executive Director, CCLA

A film production veteran, cause-related event producer, and long-time devotee to the Conscious Capitalism Movement, Maureen has always been inspired by the power of business to do good in the world. With a background in financial services management and communications, most recently as the former COO of McComsey Asset Management, she brings a strong business acumen with passion for social enterprise and entrepreneurship. She also knows with complete certainty that dogs make the world a better place.

Rocio Villalobos

Founder & Creative Director, Gracely

Rocio Villalobos

Founder & Creative Director, Gracely

Rocio is the Founder and Creative Director of Gracely, a purpose-driven creative consultancy that has been serving Los Angeles and international clients for over 18 years. With a focus on Strategy and Conscious Business, Rocio is passionate about working with companies and organizations that are changing the way we do business and are contributing positively to the world, all the while creating win-win situations for themselves, their communities and the planet.

Steve Phillips

Founder & Principal, Phillips Associates

Steve Phillips

Founder & Principal, Phillips Associates

In his relentless effort to deliver uncommon results, Steven L. Phillips has built an enviable reputation for his senior team consulting focusing on senior leadership off-sites that get results, strategic planning, and executive leadership. He is a sought-after speaker for conferences and organizations worldwide. Dr. Phillips has helped thousands of individuals and organizations establish new levels of teamwork, transformation, and performance, all specifically targeted toward bottom line results.

Dr. Phillips has extensive experience as a Senior Executive and Organization Development professional. For many years, he served as the SVP Chief Talent Officer for a privately held 1B company with 10,000 employees where he implemented a full suite of human capital management programs designed to ensure a highly skilled and productive workforce. As a consultant, Dr. Phillips has worked with Sr. Executives at such well-known companies as Microsoft, PepsiCo, Viacom, Mattel, Boeing, and many others, helping individuals, teams, and entire organizations successfully implement change. Steve is also well known for his “behind the scenes” executive coaching. Steve works one-on-one with presidents & CEOs helping them strategize for powerful and successful leadership.

In addition to his executive and consulting activities, Dr. Phillips is a professional speaker. Steve has been invited to make keynote presentations to many of the world’s most famous companies. Steve always brings to his audience humor, passion and genuine concern for making positive changes through people at work. He is a content rich, powerfully charismatic speaker.

Dr. Phillips has also served on the faculties of Purdue University, San Diego State University and the University of Southern California. He has published numerous articles on a variety of topics within the human resources / organization development field, and has presented his research at regional, national and international conventions. Dr. Phillips has been presented with two prestigious awards from the American Society for Training and Development; one for his outstanding contribution to HRD theory and practice, the second for his multi-year contribution to the cause of customer service within the field.

Dr. Phillips' best-selling books, The Team-Building Source Book, Teaming Up: Achieving Organizational Transformation, Team-Building for the Future: Beyond the Basics, Team Training: From Start Up to High Performance, and Managing Change: A Practical Guide For Transforming an Organization are used in corporations throughout the world.

Dr. Phillips currently serves on the Board of Conscious Capitalism Los Angeles. He has also recently completed a rigorous application and certification process and has become a Certified Forum Facilitator for the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Dr. Phillips has also served as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization and was the 1994 President for The American Society of Training and Development of Los Angeles. Dr. Phillips received his Master's degree in Organizational Communication from Purdue University and his Doctorate from the University of Southern California.

Tehya Kopp

Board Member, Vice President

Tehya Kopp

Board Member, Vice President

Tehya Kopp is a global leader of strategy, operations and marketing with 25 years in the entertainment industry and a passion for driving social impact. Having lived in four countries, taught English to Czech journalists, created profitable programs for the American Film Institute, and led cross-functional teams at Warner Bros. for 17 years, Tehya now applies her love for solving complex, uncharted problems to creating meaningful change in the world.

Tehya holds a B.A. in English and American Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Program for Leadership Development.

CCLA Advisory Council

CEO, Evite

Thirty years of experience in software and Internet technology focused on business model and product reinvention—with hands-on experience from start-up to scale. Prior to joining Evite, Victor spent over four years as the president and CEO of Kodak Gallery, where he led a holistic, multi-year turn-around of Kodak's global photo-sharing network. Before Kodak, he headed marketing and commerce at Intuit where he grew web channel revenue from $300 million to over $1 billion in four years.

CEO, Pledgeling

James Citron is the Chief Executive Officer of Pledgeling and leads the strategic vision and organizational growth across the company.

James is a serial mobile and social entrepreneur committed to harnessing the power of mobile technology to create a more connected, healthy and sustainable planet. Prior to Pledgeling, James led Mogreet and Outspoken, two of the largest text messaging and mobile engagement companies in the United States, to acquisitions by Silver Lake and Blackstone portfolio companies, respectively. An early pioneer in the mobile video space and nicknamed the ‘Father of MMS’, James’ technology today powers over 50% of all MMS messages sent by businesses and was awarded one of the first patents in the mobile video space.

James is a frequent speaker on social enterprise, mobile technology and entrepreneurship, and enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs committed to building businesses at the intersection of profit and purpose. A graduate of Princeton University, James is personally passionate about helping to eradicate illiteracy, homelessness and hunger.

Founder & CEO, We Are HAH

Sharleen Ernster is a visionary fashion executive with 20+ years of expertise leading global brands. Most recently as the Founder CEO of We Are HAH, a brand she launched in 2015 that is pioneering sustainable fashion. Prior to launching her passion and purpose @ HAH. She held leadership roles as the Chief Design Officer for Guess?, notably serving for 13+ years in executive roles across merchandising and design at Victoria’s Secret, as well as A|X Armani Exchange and Henri Bendel. She is proud to serve as an Advisory Board Member for the Responsible Fashion Organization, Conscious Capitalism LA chapter Female Founders.

Her lifelong passion for intimate apparel, coupled with a desire to create ethically-made and eco- conscious product, and redefine sexy for her daughters and the next generation of women has led to her most exciting role yet - Founder of We Are HAH. Under Sharleen’s leadership, HAH has taken the fashion world by storm as the first sexy intimate brand focused on comfort, ease, and ethically made product, pioneering the idea that sustainable is sexy (with a soul…)

HAH’s higher purpose is to #startsomewhere… #startsomewere to pioneer and market sustainable products #startsomewere to educate the consumer. And #startsomewere to be a catalyst for change in the fashion industry. Because it’s Hot-As-Hell to care about Mother Earth and the legHAHcy we leave for generations to come.

President, The Giving Keys

Experienced social impact leader & fashion industry professional with 10+ years of experience. Brit, a native of Detroit, is President of The Giving Keys, a company that exists to employ people transitioning out of homelessness in Los Angeles to make inspirational jewelry and accessories. The Giving Keys has created 120+ jobs for people transitioning out of homelessness. Brit is passionate about social impact, workforce development for community transformation and leveraging inclusive company culture to build self-esteem and break cycles of poverty.

Founder & CEO, WeFirst

Simon Mainwaring is the founder and CEO of We First, a creative consultancy that builds purpose- driven brands. He is a member of the Advisory Council of Conscious Capitalism LA, the Steering Committee of the Business Alliance for the Future and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London. He contributes to The Guardian, Forbes, and Fast Company on purposeful branding and storytelling. Simon’s book, We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon bestseller.

Simon is a sought-after international speaker with engagements including the Cannes International Advertising Festival, Royal Society of Arts, SXSW, TEDxSF, NAB, Promaxbda, Conscious Capitalism, Necker Island with Sir Richard Branson, Sustainable Brands, Social Good Summit, National Speakers Association, 1440 Multiversity, National Press Club and United Nations Foundation, as well as brands such as Google, Coca-Cola, General Motors, VF, Samsung, VSP Global, Toyota, SAP, Gucci, JP Morgan Chase, Timberland, VW Group, NHL, and Patagonia.

Prior to starting We First, Simon spent 15 years as an award-winning writer, Creative Director, and Worldwide Creative Director at many of the world’s top creative advertising agencies including Saatchi Saatchi, Wieden Kennedy, and Ogilvy working on brands such a Nike, Coca-Cola, Toyota, and Motorola, as well as consulting on dozens of F500 brands for leading advertising, production, and digital companies. He was the writer on the U.S. launch of the first three generations of the Toyota Prius, the largest national service campaign for the Entertainment Industry Foundation that brought together all four major TV networks for the first time in U.S. television history, and award-winning campaigns for Nike.

Founder & CEO, BrandStorm Inc. (Natierra Superfoods)

In 2002, Ollivier launched BrandStorm, Inc., pioneering the U.S superfood category introduction of sacred pink salt from the Himalayas and goji berries that quickly evolved into beloved household brands known around the world.

As Ollivier’s search for superfoods not commonly known in the US took him around the world, he was drawn to the people, cultures and practices of the countries he visited, guiding him on a journey of caring and nurturing these relationships. These experiences set him on a path of ethical sourcing and caring for the soul, hence the business mission of BrandStorm Inc., selling “Superfoods with Soul”, which led to the creation of Natierra’s Feed a Soul Program.

To date more than 700,000 meals have been provided to children in need in Haiti through the “Buy One Bag, Feed one Child” program from sales of the superfood items.

Founder & Principal, Phillips Associates

In his relentless effort to deliver uncommon results, Steven L. Phillips has built an enviable reputation for his senior team consulting focusing on senior leadership off-sites that get results, strategic planning, and executive leadership. He is a sought-after speaker for conferences and organizations worldwide. Dr. Phillips has helped thousands of individuals and organizations establish new levels of teamwork, transformation, and performance, all specifically targeted toward bottom line results.

Dr. Phillips has extensive experience as a Senior Executive and Organization Development professional. For many years, he served as the SVP Chief Talent Officer for a privately held 1B company with 10,000 employees where he implemented a full suite of human capital management programs designed to ensure a highly skilled and productive workforce. As a consultant, Dr. Phillips has worked with Sr. Executives at such well-known companies as Microsoft, PepsiCo, Viacom, Mattel, Boeing, and many others, helping individuals, teams, and entire organizations successfully implement change. Steve is also well known for his “behind the scenes” executive coaching. Steve works one-on-one with presidents & CEOs helping them strategize for powerful and successful leadership.

In addition to his executive and consulting activities, Dr. Phillips is a professional speaker. Steve has been invited to make keynote presentations to many of the world’s most famous companies. Steve always brings to his audience humor, passion and genuine concern for making positive changes through people at work. He is a content rich, powerfully charismatic speaker.

Dr. Phillips has also served on the faculties of Purdue University, San Diego State University and the University of Southern California. He has published numerous articles on a variety of topics within the human resources / organization development field, and has presented his research at regional, national and international conventions. Dr. Phillips has been presented with two prestigious awards from the American Society for Training and Development; one for his outstanding contribution to HRD theory and practice, the second for his multi-year contribution to the cause of customer service within the field.

Dr. Phillips' best-selling books, The Team-Building Source Book, Teaming Up: Achieving Organizational Transformation, Team-Building for the Future: Beyond the Basics, Team Training: From Start Up to High Performance, and Managing Change: A Practical Guide For Transforming an Organization are used in corporations throughout the world.

Dr. Phillips currently serves on the Board of Conscious Capitalism Los Angeles. He has also recently completed a rigorous application and certification process and has become a Certified Forum Facilitator for the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Dr. Phillips has also served as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization and was the 1994 President for The American Society of Training and Development of Los Angeles. Dr. Phillips received his Master's degree in Organizational Communication from Purdue University and his Doctorate from the University of Southern California.

Co-Founder & CEO, EveryTable

In 2013 Sam Polk, a former hedge fund trader, founded a nonprofit called Feast (originally called Groceryships) to address food-related health problems in South LA, where the average income is $13,000 a year, life expectancy is 10 years lower than more affluent areas, and diseases like obesity and diabetes are alarmingly high. Feast began helping family food providers make healthy choices through nutrition education, cooking classes, free produce, and support groups.

In 2014 David Foster, a former private equity professional, was so inspired by a Feast event that he decided to join the nonprofit full-time.

That year Sam and David began hearing from Feast participants that while fresh produce was great, they often had to buy food on the go because they were juggling multiple jobs and large families. And in South LA, their only options were fast food.

Sam and David saw an opportunity to help families like these. So they created a model for a new company that would sell healthy food in “food deserts” like South LA at prices competitive with fast food.

Feast was built on the belief that every life is equally important. Sam and David wanted this core value embedded in the new company, so they called it Everytable, reflecting a mission to bring healthy, affordable food to every table in the country, with no one left out.

Founder & CEO, Homeboy Electronics Recycling

Kabira is the CEO of Homeboy Electronics Recycling, after her years as Founder and CEO of Isidore Electronics Recycling, both full service e-waste recycling and IT Asset Disposition social enterprises that provide permanent employment opportunities for people who face systemic barriers to employment. Kabira holds a Master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California, has consulted for the non-profit Green For All and worked for the City of L.A. as Senior Field Deputy for (then) Council President Eric Garcetti. Honors and awards include the inaugural Smart on Crime award by (then) California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Sustainable Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Los Angeles Sustainable Business Council.